Digitalizing Germany - a shared venture

Abstract

Co-operation and competition between the Federal government and the states characterise the higher education scene in Germany. This influences the development of digitalization activities in Germany substantially. The independent but mainly govemment financed Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Society) is another important player. DFG is the principal grant-giving body for research and development activities in Germany. The retrodigitalizing program of the DFG is a good example of current German progress. The Federal government has a stronger position in the field of research than in the education scene. The Federal Minister of Science and Education started a very ambitious project called „Global Info". Its goal is to join leamed societies, publishers and libraries to develop an electronic publication environment. The author presents the SUBITO-system as a third example of German progress. Starting with a rather traditional document delivery system it aims to develop a system of virtual libraries for digital materials. There is a close connection with the well-established DFG-program called „Special library collection system of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft". The development of digital libraries opens new doors for closer International co-operation. The Mellongranted German demonstration project will be a framework for future activities in document delivery, metadata exchange and co-operative digitalizing activities. It will be based on German-American can collaboration.